Greg McMullin - Moddinghttp://greg.mcmull.in/taxonomy/term/22/0
enChanges To The Websitehttp://greg.mcmull.in/changes-website
<p><br>You may have noticed that the website has a slightly new look. Gone is the old 2 column layout and in comes a brand spanking new 3 column layout. I've been wanting to do it for years but never had the skills to do it. That all changed when I spotted <a href="http://drupal.org/node/161544">this</a> on the drupal page for the theme I use.<br><br />
This third column has allowed me to add a nice little flickr widget which you can see over there on the right. I have also tweaked the CSS of the site so the twitter updates look nice and are all spaced correctly.<br><br />
The final tweak was to the contact page. I used to have a contact form but it got spammed horribly and I tooki to down. Today I reinstated it but with a reCAPTCHA, so now any spambots should be foiled. To do this I used the <a href="http://drupal.org/project/modules">Drupal modules</a> <a href="http://drupal.org/project/contact_forms">Contact Forms</a> and <a href="http://drupal.org/project/recaptcha">reCAPCHA</a>. A big thanks to <a href="http://erin.clerico.com/2009/08/11/contact-form-in-wordpress-vs-drupal/">Erin Clerico</a> who posted how to do this on their blog.<br><br />
Now. Go send me an email.<br><br></p>
http://greg.mcmull.in/changes-website#commentsDrupalDrupal ModulesDrupal ThemesModdingWeb DevelopmentWebsiteWed, 12 Aug 2009 16:44:10 +0000greg49 at http://greg.mcmull.inHOW TO: Dismantle a Sony Ericsson k750i and fit a new casinghttp://greg.mcmull.in/how-dismantle-sony-ericsson-k750i-and-fit-new-casing
<p>You may have read my post about <a href="http://greg.mcmull.in/how-upgrade-firmware-sony-ericsson-k750i-w800i-walkman-phone">upgrading the firmware</a> on my well used old k750i. Well that got me thinking. What else could I do to give it a new lease of life. As you can see the casing was pretty beat up. And the camera lens cover was completely missing! </p>
<p><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZC5eybOaI/AAAAAAAABVY/2RbcI9Y4K9Q/P1010001.JPG?imgmax=400"><br />
<img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZDGuybObI/AAAAAAAABVc/PYhyQERQyBw/P1010002.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>So what could i do? I hit ebay and found you could buy replacement casings for less then £10. So I ordered a nice shiny red one and waited for it to be delivered. And waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually 3 weeks later it arrived. The perils of buying from China I suppose. Anyway it looked excellent, as you can see:</p>
<p><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZDXeybOdI/AAAAAAAABVk/EqO8zswhIZc/P1010004.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>It came with a size 6 torx screwdriver and a case opener. Just the tools needed to dismantle the phone. </p>
<p>The next step was to strip down the k750i into its component pieces. Its surprisingly not difficult. First I had to use the torx driver to remove the 2 screws in the battery compartment. And the two tiny phillips head screws that held the back fascia down.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZDnOybOfI/AAAAAAAABVs/6r_9X02yAP8/P1010006.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Then using the case opener I was able to pry the rear fascia away from the main housing. The trick was to start at the battery compartment end and work down each side to the top.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZDtuybOgI/AAAAAAAABVw/nOISEFXAH64/P1010007.JPG?imgmax=400"><br />
<img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZDyOybOhI/AAAAAAAABV0/6Ic9XLmlwNI/P1010008.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Once the back fascia was removed, I had a better view of what was inside.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZD6uybOiI/AAAAAAAABV4/-yiYpVTpDt0/P1010009.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>The same process could then be repeated on the front fascia, gently prying off the casing being careful not to use too much force near the LCD display.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZEMuybOkI/AAAAAAAABWA/GaCfcF6hyzk/P1010011.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Now the guts of the beast are on display! Along with two more torx screws which need to be removed before we go any further.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZER-ybOlI/AAAAAAAABWE/RwAGqTjGJ6I/P1010012.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Now the time has come to remove the keyboard unit. It actually comes off rather easily with only a little force. But if you are feeling scared you can prise the socket apart with a small screwdriver. You can see that most of the major parts simply click together using a plug and socket technique. This makes it VERY easy to dismantle and rebuild.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZEnOybOnI/AAAAAAAABWQ/_58IMRCP0eA/P1010014.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>The LCD can now be disconnected from the main board in the same fashion.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZEveybOoI/AAAAAAAABWU/zeklKSam4Qk/P1010016.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Be careful with the LCD as it is by far the most fragile part of the phone. Its also worth giving each part a thorough clean before rebuilding, my phone was FULL of finger grime after years of use under several different members of my family.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZE8uybOqI/AAAAAAAABWc/FdHzWIRk30k/P1010020.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>The camera unit can now be disconnected from the main board.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZFF-ybOrI/AAAAAAAABWg/vWeBJ8kSAY8/P1010023.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Now we remove the main board. Its held in by a couple of clips on the main housing. Simply push these back with either a small screwdriver or the opening tool. </p>
<p><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZFReybOsI/AAAAAAAABWk/G0GWNB1TNoA/P1010026.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>The main board removed from the body, showing the main camera unit and the speaker unit.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZFYeybOtI/AAAAAAAABWo/VQIAjVvnhEw/P1010028.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Now this is where it gets kind of tricky. You can pop the connection ribbon off the top of the camera.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZFdOybOuI/AAAAAAAABWs/ofzkroqutAU/P1010030.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Like so:</p>
<p><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZFkOybOvI/AAAAAAAABWw/NbaOkX99oeQ/P1010032.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>The camera unit just slides out, and is surprisingly compact. Next step is to gently pry out the vibration motor.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZFpuybOwI/AAAAAAAABW0/AZ8bKRg2x9Q/P1010033.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Then flip the entire unit over and GENTLY peel the camera connection ribbon and switch off the back of the housing. It is actually stuck down with glue but peels off easily once you have got a corner up.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZFyuybOyI/AAAAAAAABW4/U_o0XdoN5jQ/P1010037.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Now we turn attention to the speaker unit. Now it the beat time to go through the main housing ant take out all the buttons. There is a very small connector by the camera shutter release button that you must not overlook. Once you have all the buttons out you can start to worry about how you are going to pry up the speaker unit. I actually went in though the button hole for the play/pause button. It allowed me to get my little screwdriver underneath it and pry it up. It could then be removed with little fuss.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZF3-ybOzI/AAAAAAAABW8/SL7TFCYpXik/P1010040.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>The final part to be removed is the backplate/IR transmitter unit. This just needs prying up from the rear side.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZF9OybO0I/AAAAAAAABXA/EYoNm0ybhaY/P1010041.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Thats It! Everything is now apart. You can now rebuild the phone using the new casing and buttons. I ended up using some of the old buttons though in places as the newer ones seemed to be slightly larger and where rather stiff. Here are some shots of the finished phone.</p>
<p><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZGquybO1I/AAAAAAAABXE/FrJ5N_XEvlc/P1010042.JPG?imgmax=400"><br />
<img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/gregmcmullin/RjZGx-ybO3I/AAAAAAAABXM/pur0rNUfEoc/P1010044.JPG?imgmax=400"></p>
<p>Not bad eh! Looks like a completely new phone. I'm very happy.</p>
<p>Larger versions of the photos in this post can be found in the <a href="http://greg.mcmull.in/albums/DismantlingAK750i">relevant web gallery.</a><br />
<br></p>
http://greg.mcmull.in/how-dismantle-sony-ericsson-k750i-and-fit-new-casing#commentsHackingHow Tok750iModdingPhotoblogPhotosSony ErricsonFri, 04 May 2007 04:06:24 +0000greg29 at http://greg.mcmull.inHOW TO: Upgrade the Firmware of a Sony Ericsson k750i to that of a w800i walkman phonehttp://greg.mcmull.in/how-upgrade-firmware-sony-ericsson-k750i-w800i-walkman-phone
<p>I recently got hold of a beaten up, but working Sony Ericsson k750i phone. I'm planning a couple of mods for it, new case and maybe an LED colour change. However the first thing I did was hack the phone so I could upgrade its firmware to that of the w800i, basicaly changing the phone into a one with Walkman capabilities. The two phones are identical in makeup but come with different firmwares installed. Anyway I found this method on a forum somewhere, apologies to whoever I copied and pasted it from. I cleared up the spelling and grammar and present it for you here. </p>
<p>What you need:</p>
<p>-The exploit (found here <a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MP5ZL5TQ" title="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MP5ZL5TQ">http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MP5ZL5TQ</a>)<br />
-SEUS the sony erricson firmware upgrader (download at <a href="http://www.sonyericsson.com/support" title="www.sonyericsson.com/support">www.sonyericsson.com/support</a>)<br />
-W800.exe (Found in the Exploit)<br />
-The CDA you want to use ( <a href="http://www.se-world.info/cda-strings" title="http://www.se-world.info/cda-strings">http://www.se-world.info/cda-strings</a> )<br />
-flash-driver (same as when you use SEUS for first time, see tutorial )<br />
- 'cygwin1.dll' , you will find this in the exploit files.</p>
<p>What to do:</p>
<p>-copy cygwin1.dll to your windows\system32 folder<br />
-EXTRACT CONTENTS TO A FOLDER NAMED W800<br />
-the phone has to be cid36</p>
<p>Now step by step:</p>
<p>-Turn phone OFF and remove battery, sim card and USB cable.<br />
-Replace battery (Do Not Turn Phone ON)<br />
-after unzipping Double-click "W800.exe"<br />
-Connect USB once you see the "30 seconds" message.<br />
-A pile of data should scroll down the screen.<br />
-On the blank line below the last bit of text type cda102430/6*, then hit Enter. *Note: here has to be your CDA you need. Take a look at the CDA string list for the one that you want.<br />
-Now Type Q in the blank line below the last piece of text, then hit Enter.<br />
-It should now tell you to remove the USB, after this you'll recieve a connection error. This is normal. close the program.</p>
<p>Now follow the SEUS-tutorial, your phone should be detected as W800.<br />
Complete the update via SEUS, that's all.</p>
<p>NOTE: you do this at your OWN RISK!!!!</p>
http://greg.mcmull.in/how-upgrade-firmware-sony-ericsson-k750i-w800i-walkman-phone#commentsFirmwareHackingHow Tok750iModdingSony Erricsonw800iFri, 20 Apr 2007 05:50:09 +0000greg21 at http://greg.mcmull.in